Improvement in construction of ordnance



A. KRUPP. consmucwron OF QRZDNANGE.

lie-182,584. Patented Sept. 26, 1876.

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, n C.

ALFRED KRUPP, or ESSEN, PBUSSIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION OF ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 82,584l, datedSeptember 26, 1876; application filed June 23, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED KRUPP, of Es--sen, Rhenish Prussia, cast-steel manufacturer, have invented certainImprovements in Ordnance and in shields, turrets, and other protectingstructures, and in gun-carriages used in connection therewith, of whichthe following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to so fix the gun in a strong ironframing that the gun is so firmly held in its place that when it isdischarged no recoil can take place. In order to carry this into effectthere is formed upon the muzzle end of the gun a spherical ball that isfitted into a similar spherical socket in the iron framing. This ironframing may form part of a shield or turret, or the side plating of anarmored vessel. The elevation, depression, or side range of the gun iseffected by fitting the gun into a carriage or frame so constructed thatit will admit of all thesemotions being communicated to it. Theelevation may be carried out by means of mechanical apparatus-such asscrews or racksworked either by hand or steam power, or hydraulic or aircylinders may be employed for this purpose, or any other known systemmay be used. The horizontal range may be given by mounting the gun on acarriage that traverses on semicircular rails, and can be worked by rackand pinion or any other wellknown mechanical means; or the sphericalball at the end of the gun may be fitted into a frame that is fixed upona revolving table or platform, and thus the lateral range may be givento the gun by turning the table upon its center; or the ball of the gunmay be fitted in the walls of the turret, and thus the whole may revolvetogether, the vertical range being given by any of the mechanicalarrangements above alluded to. The sighting of the gun may be eifectedeither by parallel sights fixed to the gun, but rising above the topedge of the shield in which the gun is fixed, or it may be carried outby reflectors.

It will be seen by this arrangement of fitting the gun in the shieldthat there is no embrasure through which the enemys rifle fire may bepoured, and therefore the gunners are completely secured from danger,and can work the gun with security and tranquility.

In order to protect the ball on the gun from injury from the enemysfire, the ball may be made of steel, and that portion of thecircumference which is exposed hardened and tempered, so that if struckby a shot the shot would either be broken up or deflected off or theball may be protected by a spherical or other shaped shield, which canbe withdrawn at the time the gun is fired.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation and partial section, and Fig. 2is a plan of the shield or protection.

A A is the gun B, the ball attached to the muzzle end of the gun byscrewing it on, or by any similar arrangement. 0 is the shield, which,in this case, is shown as fixed, and in this shield the ball B reposes,being free to move in order that the gun may be trained in any directionthat may be required. D is the frame, in whichthe hinder portion of thegun is supported. This frame D rests upon the platform E working uponthe wheels at a running on the rails I) I), so as to enable the gun tobe trained horizontally in either direction. To give the vertical rangeto the gun, there can be employed the screw F, (shown in dotted lines,)or by an air or hydraulic or steam cylinder, as represented at Gr. Inorder to introduce the ball 13 of the cannon into the cavity formed forit in the shield or protection 0, it is preferable to make a removablesection, 0, sliding vertically in channels prepared for it in theprincipal portion 0 of the shield,

as seen in the plan view of the same, Fig. 2.

I claim 1. The spherical portion B of the cannon at or near the muzzleend, and held by and fitting and working in a corresponding socketformed in a shield, armor, or other protecting fixed or movablestructure (3, the said cannon being sighted and trained substantially asset forth.

2. The cannon A, with spherical formation B at or near its muzzle end,held and fulcru'nled in a corresponding socket, in combination withframes D and with turn-table E or equivalent device, and with hydraulicor other cylinder G and elevating screw F, or other known elevatingappliance.

3. The combination, with the cannon, of the spherical end B andprotecting cap 0, substantially as set forth.

ALFRED KRUPP.

Witnesses: Dr. J OHANNES PIEPER, ALFRED LONGSDON, OTTO SOHNABEL.

